The Harvard Law School’s Collection
of Medieval English Statute Books and
Registers of Writs

Ames Projects

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HLS MS No. 61

Calendar; Registrum brevium
Articuli ad Novas Narrationes; List of Kings of England

ca. 1325; ca. 1487

http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HLS.LIBR:12734424

 

 

<Preliminary introduction>

The HOLLIS cataloguing may be found here. The following items are worth repeating:

“Description: [223] leaves : vellum ; 8 cm.

“Notes: Illuminated initials.

“Leaves unnumbered; a few incorrect leaf numbers were supplied, in blue pencil, by a former owner or librarian. Some leaves between parts are blank.”

The cataloguing in Baker’s English Legal Manuscripts, 1, no. 84 reads as follows:

“REGISTRUM BREVIUM

“MS. 61.

“C.xiv-xv, 221 ff. Includes a calendar; and a list of kings of England. The first writ in the register is by John de Stanmere against Thomas de Welton for land in Lincolnshire. The Articuli were written in C.xv.

“Calendar includes dedication of St Andrew’s church, Holborn; ‘pertinet Harvy de Lyncolnes Inne’ (c. 1500); ‘Ric. Clerke’ (early C.xvi), probably the one (d. 1530) who was adm. Lincoln’s Inn in 1496; armorial bookplate of Edward Hailstone (d. 1890); not identified in his sales; acquired by George Dunn in Feb. 1892; his sale, S. 12 Feb. 1913, no. 236; bought privately by HLS.

Census, I, 1035, no. 61; Early Registers, xxvi.”

The total number of folios is 223, not Baker’s 221, which is the result of a mistake in the pencilled foliation. In addition to the pencilled foliation described in HOLLIS, there are three medieval foliations described below.

The manuscript is approximately 80 X 55 mm.

The 19th-century leather binding is decorated with impressed lines on the covers and gold lettering on the spine. It is in fair condition with the spine worn and detaching from the covers. It probably dates from the time of Hailstone’s ownership.

The overall condition of the text of the manuscript is good. The quiring suggests that there are two folios missing, neither of which seems to have resulted in the loss of any text.

The Registrum Brevium includes a large initial capital on the first page (fol. 32r) and red paragraph marks throughout. The calendar is laid out in red and black. Illustrations are limited to informal drawings on fols. 141r and 142v.

The text is written in three distinct scripts: a formal bookhand for the Calendar; a fairly neat semi-cursive legal script for the Registrum Brevium; and a third, much less regular script, for the Tabulae, Articuli ad Novas Narrationes, and Reges Angliae. The script of the calendar is from the 15th century, probably quite late in that century or even from the beginning of the 16th. The script of the register would seem to date from the first half of the 14th century. That of the Tabulae, Articuli, and surrounding material dates from the 15th century, and of a number of hands at work they all seem to date from quite late in that century.

There are three sets of medieval foliation, one in letters in the calendar, one in the Registrum Brevium, and another in the Articuli ad Narrationes. There is also a modern foliation in blue pencil in the upper right-hand corner. It is incomplete and has some errors. We have refoliated the manuscript digitally and arrived at a total of 223.

We are unsure whether there are any medieval signature marks. If there are, they are sufficiently faint and irregular as not to be helpful. The quire breaks, however, in both the register and the articuli are, in most cases, quite obvious, and we have based our collation on these. Everything can be made to fit into quite regular quaternions. This will have to suffice until the manuscript is rebound.

Quiring/collation:

18 (f. 1–7, one missing before ?1), 2–178 (f. 8–135), 188 (f. 136–221, one missing after 142), 19–288 (143–221), 292 (f. 222–223).

The contents of the manuscript are listed in the summary table below and described in notes to the Detailed Contents. We note here that the manuscript contains a short treatise, principally a collection of sample documents, on the ‘Modus levandorum finium’ in Latin. All the rest of the contents have previously been noted.

The calendar contains a feast for the dedication of the church of St Andrew’s Holborn on 9 March. The church may go back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The wooden church was replaced with a stone one in the 15th century, and the church may have been rededicated at that time. Be that as it may be, the mention of the feast suffices to set the calendar firmly in London.

The Easter day in the calendar is 7 Kal. Apr., i.e. 26 March. Assuming, though this is not certain, that that was the Easter date in the year in which the calendar was made, the possible years are 1475, 1486, and 1497.

The list of the kings of England begins with Edward the Confessor and ends with Henry VII. The regnal years and death dates of all the kings are given except for Henry VII. For him the list gives the date of his accession at Bosworth Field and of his coronation later in 1485. The last line seems to refer to his victory at the battle of Stoke Field, 16 June 1487.

The other items in the manuscript are less easy to date. The writ of right patent in the register is issued in the name of a King Edward but the attestation clause is left out. The script suggests a date later in the 14th century than 1307, and the contents are reminiscent of a cut-down version HLS MS 28, which has a rather firm date of 1325. Articuli ad Narrationes is a 15th-century text, but has not been well studied, and we are unaware that anyone has attempted to date it more precisely.

How the manuscript as we now have it was put together, however, seems reasonably clear. Someone in the late 15th-century, perhaps the mysterious ‘Harvy of Lincoln’s Inn’,1 wanted a portable copy of a register of writs. He was not looking for one that was particularly up-to-date, and he obtained one that dated from sometime in the first half of the 14th century. To this he added, or had added, a tabula for the register and some notes prior to the register, and a copy of Articuli ad Narrationes and a tabula for it after the register. The script of the list of kings suggests that it was added at the same time. We can be less sure about the calendar but there is nothing about it that requires a later date.

1. There are a number of Harveys of Lincoln’s Inn in Baker’s Men of Court. Perhaps the most plausible is William I (id at 1:830), admitted Lincoln’s Inn 1480.

On the assumption that the 15th-century contents all date from the same time, we assigned them a date of ca. 1487 on the basis of the list of kings. We originally dated the register ca. 1325 on the basis of the comparison with HLS MS 28. The introduction to the Analysis of Writs identifies one of parties to the writ of error at the end of the register as an Italian merchant who is known to have been active in 1324.

That the manuscript passed from Harvy to Richard Clerke of Lincoln’s Inn in the early 16th century seems plausible.2 It became, then, a book for lawyers or aspiring lawyers, and probably it always was.

2. William I did not die until 1538, making the transfer to Clerke (d. 1530, id. at 1:480, admitted Lincoln’s Inn 1496) a bit problematic. William I, however, became a landowner by ca. 1500 and is not recorded as being involved in legal affairs after that time. He may have sold or given this book to Clerke, when it became clear that he would not need to be active professionally.

 

Summary Contents

Clicking on the item in question will open the first sequence for the item in the PDS in a new tab or window.

 

  Seq. Fol. No. Item  
4–27f. 1r–12v1Calendar 
28–32f. 13r–15r2Notes 
34–55f. 16r–26v3Tabula brevium 
56–57f. 27r–27v4Modus levandorum finium 
58f. 28r5Sample land grant 
66–283f. 32r–140v6Register of writs 
66–94f. 32r–46r6aWrits of right 
94–119f. 46r–58v6bEcclesiastical writs 
119–128f. 58v–63r6cWaste 
128–154f. 63r–76r6dReplevin 
154–176f. 76r–87r6eTrespass 
176–183f. 87r–90v6fAccount 
183–189f. 90v–93v6gDebt 
189–195f. 93v–96v6hAnnuity 
195–196f. 96v–97r6iCovenant 
196–207f. 97r–102v6jMiscellaneous rights in land 
207–208f. 102v–103r6kQuare eiecit 
208–215f. 103r–106v6lWardship 
215–218f. 106v–108r6mDower 
219–230f. 108v–114r6nBrevia de statuto 
230–250f. 114r–124r6oNovel disseisin 
250–255f. 124r–126v6pMort d’ancestor 
255–279f. 126v–138v6qEntry 
279–282f. 138v–140r6rFormedon 
282–283f. 140r–140v6sError 
284–287f. 141r–142v7Notes and informal drawings 
288–421f. 143r–209v8Articuli ad Novas Narrationes 
422–429f. 210r–213r9Tabula of Articuli ad Novas Narrationes 
422–430f. 215r–223r10Kings of England 

 

Detailed Contents

Clicking on the sequence number will open that sequence in the PDS in a new tab or window.

 

Seq. Fol. Label Header MsFol.  
1no fol., no sig.Spine 
2no fol., no sig.Front cover 
3no fol., no sig.Front pastedown, with bookplate, From the Library of George Dunn of Woodley Hall Near Maidenhead 
41rCalendar 
51v 
62r 
72v 
83rc 
93v 
104rd 
114v 
125re 
135v 
146rf 
156v 
167rg 
177v 
188rh 
198v 
209rj 
219v 
2210rk 
2310v 
2411rl 
2511v 
2612rm 
2712v 
2813rNotes in English (15th c.)n 
  Note: Pencilled modern foliation in blue: ‘13’. This foliation continues irregularly and with errors until the end of the manuscript.
2913vNotes in English (16th c.) 
3014rNotes in Latin (15th c.) 
3114vNotes in French (15th c.) 
3215rNotes of contents by George Dunn 
3315vBlank 
3416rTabula brevium 
  Note: The script of the heading is later than that of the tabula itself, though not by much.
3516v 
3617r 
3717v 
3818r 
3918v 
4019r 
4119v 
4220r 
4320v 
4421r 
4521v 
4622r 
4722v 
4823r 
4923v 
5024r 
5124v 
5225r 
5325v 
5426r 
5526v 
5627rModus levandorum finium 
  Note: This is not the text of Modus levandi fines, S.R. 1:214, though it does not seem to be inconsistent with it. The text in S.R. is in French; this one is in Latin and gives an example of levying a specific fine.
5727v 
  Note: End of Modus levandorum finium. Space left at end of page.
5828rSample land grant 
  Note: Perhaps related to the previous item.
5928vBlank 
6029rBlank with rubbed out header 
6129vBlank with rubbed out header 
6230rBlank with rubbed out header and modern foliation 
6330vBlank with rubbed out header 
6431rBlank 
6531vBlank 
6632rWrits of right (includes some of what we have been calling Ecclsiastical writs) 
  Note: (1) Decorated initial ‘E’. (2) The initial writ of right patent is issued by a king Edward without the attestation clause.
6732vde 
6833rRecto2 
6933vde 
7034rRecto3 
7134vde 
7235rRecto4 
7335vde 
7436rRecto5 
7536vde 
7637rRecto6 
7737vde 
7838rRecto7 
7938vde 
8039rRecto8 
8139vde 
8240rRecto9 
8340vde 
8441rRecto10 
8541vde 
8642rRecto11 
8742vde 
8843rRecto12 
8943vde 
9044rRecto13 
9144vde 
9245rRecto14 
9345vde 
9446rRecto15 
9546vde 
9647rRecto16 
9747vde 
9848rRecto17 
9948vEcclesiastical writsProhibicio 
10049rProhibicio18 
10149vProhibicio 
10250rProhibicio19 
10350vProhibicio 
10451rProhibicio20 
10551vProhibicio 
10652rProhibicio21 
10752v 
10853r22 
10953v 
11054r23 
11154v 
11255r24 
11355v 
11456r25 
11556v 
11657r26 
11757v 
11858r27 
11958vWaste, including de estreppamentode 
12059rvasto28 
12159vde 
12260rvasto29 
12360vde 
12461rvasto30 
12561vde 
12662rvasto31 
12762vde 
12863rReplevinvasto32 
12963vRepleg’ 
13064rRepleg’33 
13164vRepleg’ 
13265rRepleg’34 
13365v 
13466r35 
13566vde averiis 
13667rRepleg’36 
13767vde averiis 
13868rRepleg’37 
13968vde averiis 
14069rRepleg’38 
14169vpone 
14270rde averiis39 
14370vTrespassCause 
14471rCause40 
14571vde rescussu 
14672rde districcionibus41 
14772vDe districcionibus 
14873rde averiis carucarum42 
14973vde hominis replegiandis 
15074rde nativis43 
15174vmoderata misericordia 
15275r44 
15375vde auxilio de primog’ fil’ milite faciend’ 
15476rde ?? trans’ scutag’45 
15576vde odio et atia 
15677r46 
15777vCertiorari 
15878r47 
15978vDe seisina habenda post annum et diem 
16079r48 
16179vDe trans’ 
16280rde trans’49 
16380vde trans’ 
16481rde trans’50 
16581vde trans’ 
16682rde trans’51 
16782vde trans’ 
16883rde trans’52 
16983vde trans’ 
17084rde trans’53 
17184vde trans’ 
17285rde trans’; de conspiracione54 
17385vde trans’ 
17486rde trans’55 
17586vde trans’ 
17687rAccountde trans’56 
17787vde compoto 
17888rde compoto57 
17988vde compoto 
18089rde compoto58 
18189vde compoto 
18290rde compoto59 
18390vDebtde compoto 
18491rde debito; Cartis redendis60 
18591vde debito 
18692rde debito61 
18792vde debito 
18893rde debito62 
18993vAnnuityplegg’ acquietando 
19094r63 
19194vexecucione iudicii 
19295r64 
19395v 
19496rWarantia carte65 
19596vCovenantde convencione 
19697rMiscellaneous rights in landCertiorari66 
19797vNullus sine precepto R’ implicite de ten’ 
19898r67 
19998vCuria claudenda 
20099r68 
20199vde communa 
202100rpasture69 
203100v 
204101r70 
205101vde racionabilibus divisis et perambulacio facienda 
206102r 
207102vQuare eiecitSicut infra terminum 
208103rWardship 
209103vCommune custodia 
210104r 
211104v 
212105reieccione custodie72 
213105v 
214106r73 
215106vDowerDower 
216107r74 
217107v 
218108r75 
219108vBrevia de statuto 
220109r76 
221109v 
222110rNon conversantes non veniant ad turnum77 
223110v 
224111rDe religeosis non veniant ad turnum78 
225111v 
226112r79 
227112v 
228113r80 
229113v 
230114rNovel disseisinerror81 
231114vde nova 
232115rdisseisina82 
233115vde nova 
234116rdisseisina83 
235116vde nova 
236117rdisseisina84 
237117vde nocumento 
238118rde nocumento85 
239118v 
240119r86 
241119v 
242120r87 
243120v 
244121r88 
245121v 
246122r89 
247122v 
248123rCussinage90 
249123v 
250124rMort d’ancestorMortdauncestr’91 
251124v 
252125r92 
253125vPatent d’assise de mordauncestre 
254126r93 
255126vEntryde 
256127ringressu94 
257127vde ingressu 
258128rde ingressu95 
259128vde 
260129ringressu96 
261129vde 
262130ringressu97 
263130vde ingressu 
264131rde ingressu; cui in vita98 
265131vde ingressu 
266132rde ingressu 
267132vde ingressu 
268133rde ingressu99 
269133vde ingressu 
270134rde ingressu100 
271134vde ingressu 
272135rde ingressu101 
273135vde ingressu 
274136r102 
275136vCessavit 
276137rde intrusione103 
277137vde intrusione 
278138rde intrusione104 
279138vFormedon 
280139r105 
281139v 
282140rError106 
283140v 
284141rNotes and informal drawings, late 15th c. 
  Note: Includes mark of ownership of Harvey of Lincoln’s Inn and reference to the writ Ad pontes reparandas fol. lxvij.
285141vBlank 
286142rBlank 
287142vNotes and informal drawings, late 15th c. 
288143rArticuli ad Novas Narrationes1 
  Heading: Incipit: In principio ?omni sciendum est quod omnia communia placita. Explicit: versum eum probare prout ?cui ?verum ?etc. Finis..
  Note: Baker identifies the work as being of the 15th century. The script is not the same as the register and seems to correspond to that of the main hand of the 15th-century additions. The text does not seem to match any of the tracts in Baker, Cambridge Legal Manuscripts, though it is similar to other Latin treatises on counting. The work was printed many times under this title in the 16th century (first ed. 1525). There is a commentary on it in P. H. Winfield, The Chief Sources of English Legal History (Cambridge, MA 1925) 283–5, who cites this manuscript as the only one that he knows of.
289143v 
290144r2 
291144v 
292145r3 
293145v 
294146r4 
295146v 
296147r5 
297147v 
298148r6 
299148v 
300149r7 
301149v 
302150r8 
303150v 
304151r9 
305151v 
306152r10 
307152v 
308153r11 
309153v 
310154r12 
311154v 
312155r13 
313155v 
314156r14 
315156v 
316157r15 
317157v 
318158r16 
319158v 
320159r17 
321159v 
322160r18 
323160v 
324161r19 
325161v 
326162r20 
327162v 
328163r21 
329163v 
330164r22 
331164v 
332165r23 
333165v 
334166r24 
335166v 
336167r25 
337167v 
338168r26 
339168v 
340169r27 
341169v 
342170r28 
343170v 
344171r29 
345171v 
346172r30 
347172v 
348173r31 
349173v 
350174r32 
351174v 
352175r33 
353175v 
354176r34 
355176v 
356177r35 
357177v 
358178r36 
359178v 
360179r37 
361179v 
362180r38 
363180v 
364181r39 
365181v 
366182r40 
367182v 
368183r41 
369183v 
370184r42 
371184v 
372185r43 
373185v 
374186r44 
375186v 
376187r45 
377187v 
378188r46 
379188v 
380189r47 
381189v 
382190r48 
383190v 
384191r49 
385191v 
386192r50 
387192v 
388193r51 
389193v 
390194r52 
391194v 
392195r53 
393195v 
394196r54 
395196v 
396197r55 
397197v 
398198r56 
399198v 
400199r57 
401199v 
402200r58 
403200v 
404201r59 
405201v 
406202r60 
407202v 
408203r61 
409203v 
410204r62 
411204v 
412205r63 
413205v 
414206r64 
415206v 
416207r65 
417207v 
418208r66 
419208v 
420209r67 
421209v 
422210rTabula 
  Note: This is clearly a table of the preceding tract. The folio references are not complete but seem to correspond to manuscript foliation in the lower right corner.
423210v 
424211r 
425211v 
426212r 
427212v 
428213r 
429213vBlank except for layout 
430214rBlank except for layout 
431214vBlank except for layout 
432215rKings of England 
  Note: A list from Edward the Confessor to Henry VII, giving the number of years and weeks of their reigns and their place of burial. Ends with what seems to be a reference to the battle of Stoke Field, 16 June 1487. Unlike many lists of kings, this one gives a brief paragraph about each king, sometimes adding a detail or two about their lives.
433215v 
434216r 
435216v 
436217r 
437217v 
438218r 
439218v 
440219r 
441219v 
442220r 
443220v 
444221r 
445221v 
446222r 
447222v 
448223r 
449223vGift bookplate 
450no fol., no sig.Back pastedown with Harvard bookplate 
451no fol., no sig.Back cover 

 

Preliminary Analysis of the Register of Writs

 

 

No heading found

We originally dated both HLS MS 60 and 61 as ca. 1325 on the basis of their contents rather than on the basis of any firm evidence of the date. The next paragraph provides some confirmation of that date for MS 61. 1325 is the same year as the much more solidly dated MS 28, but MS 28 is quite different from 60 and 61, both of which are portable manuscripts in which we would expect to find a selection of writs rather than an attempt at comprehensiveness. That is certainly true of MS 61. Whether it is true of MS 60 is harder to know because quite a bit is missing. All three manuscripts have something in them other than a register, statutes in MS 28, Novae narrationes in MS 60, Articuli ad novas narrationes in MS 61. What is in MS 60 and 61 is much more directly related to the register. Here is the writ, and here is how you plead it. MS 61 is unique among the three in that, as described in the Introduction, the 14th-century register was put together with an index and Articuli ad novas narrationes sometime, probably in the second half, of the 15th century.

As one might expect in a portable register, we have as yet found no dating clauses in MS 61, and only one writ where the names look real. The last writ in the register is a writ of error to the mayor and sheriffs of London in a case between one Franciscus de Florencia and Baukinus de Florencia, merchants. A Florentine merchant with the unusual name Baukinus (and the surname, misspelled, of Brunelleschi; the given name could be either Bauchino or Banchino; both exist; neither is common) is the subject of a commission to William de Bereford, Hervey de Stanton, and William de Herle dated 6 Aug. 1324 (Cal. Pat. R. [1324–7], 68). The case is probably not the same, but the man probably is, and that tends to confirm our tentative date.

The following table gives the names of the writs as found in the marginalia and counts them. Two counts are given in the right-hand columns of the table. The first counts all the writs, excluding any marginalia marked ‘nota’ or ‘regula’. The second excludes from that total all the writs where the heading includes the words ‘eodem’ or ‘aliter’.

 

 

Seq.Fol.HeaderWrit(s)CountUniq
6632rBreve ballivis regis; de recto ballivis comitis; Regula .22
Note: The initial writ of right patent is issued by a king Edward without the attestation clause.
6732vdeDe recto ballivis Comitis; Nota.11
6833rRectoNota; De recto in Londonia; Nota.11
6933vdeDe recto de racionabili parte; Nota.11
7034rRectoAlitr; De recto ballivis honoris; Nota; de eodem.32
7134vdeDe recto custodi; Nota; De recto de dote; Nota; De recto Archiepiscopo.33
7235rRectoDe recto super consuetudinem manerii; Nota; Quando capit’ dominus.22
7335vde?remittit Curiam suam domino Regi; Nota; Precipe in capite; Nota; Nota.22
7436rRectoDe pace usque assisam; aliter de eodem; Nota.21
7536vdeDe eligende magnam assisam; Nota; Nota.11
7637rRectoDe recto ne vexes; Nota; De pace de consuetudinibus et serviciis.22
7737vdeDe eligendo magnam assisam; Nota; Monstravit de antiquo dominico.22
7838rRectode eodem vicecomiti; Nota; Attachiamentum inde.21
7938vdeNota; Nota; De mittendo quatuor milites ad videndum plena iusticia exhibeatur.11
8039rRectoSicut alias; cum pluries.22
8139vdeNota; De racionabili iudicio habendo; Sicut alias; cum pluries.33
8240rRectoNota; Nota; Quando quis impetravit precipe in capite per falsam suggestionem.11
8340vdeNota; Quando quis petierit Curiam.11
8441rRectoSuam de tenentibus suis extra Curiam Regis; Nota.11
8541vdeDe iudendo et languido; de attornato in languido.22
8642rRectoNota; De licencia surgendi.11
8742vdeNota.00
8843rRectoDe supersedendo in brevi de recto.11
8943vdeNota; de eodem; Nota; Nota.10
9044rRectoDe falso iudicio; Nota; de eodem.21
9144vdeNota; Pone in brevi de recto pro petente.11
9245rRectoPone pro defendente; Nota; De waranto de servicio domini Regis.22
9345vdeQ’ occasione communis summonicionis non ponatur in defaltam; Nota.11
9446rRectoDe terra replegianda; de eodem; Nota; De recto de advocacione ecclesie.32
9546vdeNota; De ultima presentacione; Nota.11
9647rRectoQuare impedit; de eodem pro Rege.21
9747vdeNota; Breve de utrum; Quare non admisit.22
9848rRectoQuare incumbravit.11
9948vProhibicioRegula; Prohibicione admittat.11
10049rProhibicioNota; Prohibicio de advocacione ecclesie.11
10149vProhibicioDe eodem parti; Attachiamentum inde.21
10250rProhibicioAttachiamentum.11
10350vProhibicioProhibicio de catallis; Attachiamentum inde.22
10451rProhibicioDe catallis et debitis pro Rege; Attachiamentum inde.22
10551vProhibicioProhibicio de trans’.11
10652rProhibicioAttachiamentum.11
10752vAttachiamentum; prohibicio de laico feodo; Attachiamentum; Nota; indicavit iudici.44
10853rindicavit parti; Nota.11
10953vNota; indicavit pro Rege; Breve pro Rege.22
11054rNota; De vi laica amovenda; prohibicio de laico feodo.22
11154vAttachiamentum inde; Nota; De excommunicato capiendo.22
11255rNota.00
11355vNota; De excommunicato deliberando; Nota.11
11456rDe admittendo caucionem; de eodem vicecomiti.21
11556vNota; De supersedendo capcioni pendente placito.11
11757vDe supersedendo capcioni pendente appellacione.11
11858rQuando clerici Regis non compellantur facere residenciam.11
11958vdeNota; De vasto in dote; Nota.11
12059rvastoDe vasto in custodia; Nota; De vasto ad terminum vite vel annorum.22
12159vdeDe vasto aliter; Nota; De eodem in dote vel custodia; Aliter; De vasto per legem Anglie.42
12260rvastoAliter de hereditate uxoris; De vasto pro religiosis ad terminum vite vel annorum; Aliter quando predecessor dimisit; Nota; Nota.31
12360vdeDe vasto in dotem pro assignato; Aliter quando assignacio facta est ?anc’; Aliter.31
12461rvastoDe vasto quando mulier recuperavit; Aliter de eodem; De vasto ad terminum vite pro assignato; Aliter.42
12561vdeDe eodem; De eodem; De vasto ex dimissione; De vasto in remanere.42
12662rvastoDe vasto de tenementis legatis; De vasto de tenementis in feodo talliato; De vasto pro legem Anglie.33
12762vdeDe vasto pro indiviso; De vasto quominus racionabile estoverium; De vasto per finem.33
12863rvastoDe eodem replegiare de foresta; Replegiari de averiis.21
12963vRepleg’Nota.00
13064rRepleg’de eodem sicut alias; cum pluries.21
13164vRepleg’Attachiamentum inde.11
13265rRepleg’Nota; De recapcione ante le pone.11
13365vDe recapcione post le recordari.11
13466rDe recapcione post le recordari.11
13566vde averiisDe averiis replegiandis non obstante libertate; Nota; Nota.11
13667rRepleg’De Wythernamio.11
13767vde averiisNota; De averiis replegiandis cum quis clamat proprietatem.11
13868rRepleg’Nota.00
13968vde averiisPone pro petente de averiis; Pone pro defendente de averiis; Recordari pro querente.33
14069rRepleg’Recordari pro defendente; Nota; Aliter pro defendente; Nota.21
14169vponeCausa; Causa.22
14270rde averiisNota; Causa; Nota; Causa; Nota.22
14370vCauseCausa in brevibus de recto; Causa; Causa bastardie; Causa.44
14471rCauseCausa; Nota; De averiis fugatis de uno comitatu in alium.22
14571vde rescussuAliter de averiis fugatis ad loca ignota; De rescussu; de eodem.31
14672rde districcionibusDe distringentibus extra feodum vel in regia strata.11
14772vDe districcionibusDe distringentibus extra ballivam seu potestatem; Attachiamentum.22
14873rde averiis carucarumDe averiis carucarum.11
14973vde hominis replegiandisNota; De homine replegiando; De nativo habendo.22
15074rde nativispone de nativis; De libertato probanda.22
15174vmoderata misericordiaAliter; Quando per minus temporis manserit in dominico; De moderata misericordia.32
15275rde eodem Sicut alias; Attachiamentum.21
15375vde auxilio de primog’ fil’ milite faciend’Nota; De auxilio ad distringendum villanum; De tallagio in dominicis; De auxilio ad primogenitum filium militem faciendum.33
15476rde ?? trans’ scutag’De scutagio; Sicut alias; De minis.33
15576vde odio et atiaAliter de minis; nota; De odio et atya.32
15677rNota; De ponendo per ballivum.11
15777vCertiorariNota; De recordo et processu.11
15878rDe ponende per ballivum; Nota; De anno et die.22
15978vDe seisina habenda post annum et diemDe seisina habenda post annum et diem.11
16079rNota de trans’.00
16179vDe trans’Inquisicio de trans’; Aliter inquisicio.21
16280rde trans’De trans’ in Comitatu; Aliter; Aliter de trans’.31
16380vde trans’De trans’ de maeremio; Aliter de falda fracta; Nota.21
16481rde trans’De trans’ in banco; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter.41
16581vde trans’Aliter de transgressione facta uxori; Aliter; Nota; De trans’; Aliter.41
16682rde trans’De cignis; De bladis de pastis; De columbis; De cista fracta; De [blurred].55
16782vde trans’Aliter de equis; De parco fracto; De warenna; De vivaris; De porcis fugatis.54
16883rde trans’De trans’ pro executoribus; De trans’ contra proteccionem.22
16983vde trans’Audiendum et terminandum de trans’.11
17084rde trans’de eodem vicecomiti.10
17184vde trans’Aliter de turbis; Aliter de ovibus; De trans’ in quinque portubus.31
17285rde trans’; de conspiracioneDe conspiracione; Nota.11
17385vde trans’De rescussu facto ballivis; de eodem.21
17486rde trans’De trans’ de navibus; De trans’ pro executoribus.22
17586vde trans’De trans’ quando vicecomes recusat dare villam.11
17687rde trans’De compoto in comitatu; de eodem in banco; de eodem inter mercatores.31
17787vde compotomonstravit de compoto.11
17888rde compotoMonstravit in Londonia; Nota; De decepcione.22
18089rde compotoQuando custodes prisone recipiant arestatos super compotum.11
18189vde compotoNota; De mittendo per manucapcionem arestatum super compotum.11
18290rde compotoDe compoto pro executoribus.11
18390vde compotoDe compoto in socagio; De debito in comitatu.22
18491rde debito; Cartis redendisde eodem pro executoribus; Aliter; Aliter; Aliter de cartis et scriptis.40
18591vde debitoNota; de eodem contra executores et alios; Aliter ?econverso.20
18692rde debitoNota; Pone pro petente de debito; Aliter; Nota.21
18792vde debitoPone pro defendente; De debito in banco; de eodem versus executores.32
18893rde debitoDe debito intestati contra ordinarium; Aliter pro ordinario; Nota.21
18993vplegg’ acquietandoDe annuuo redditu; De plegiagio aquietando; de eodem; Se recognoscat.43
19094rQuando nullus implicitetur de debito xl sol sine brevi; de eodem; De recognicione.32
19194vexecucione iudiciiNota; De execucione iudicii.11
19295rDe execucione facienda.11
19496rWarantia carteNota; Nota; De Warantia carte; Nota; De consuetudinibus et serviciis.22
19596vde convencioneDe eodem in comitatu; De convencione; de eodem; Aliter.41
19697rCertiorariAliter; Aliter; Aliter de eodem; De tenore pedis.41
19797vNullus sine precepto R’ implicite de ten’De ponte reparando; De wall’; Quando nullus implicitetur de ten’ sine precepto domini Regis.33
19898rQuando permittat villanos facere sectam; De secta facienda ad molendinum; de eodem; De molere sine multura; De molendino reparando cum exitu parti.54
19998vCuria claudendaDe Curia claudenda; De aqua haurienda; De libero tauro habendo.33
20099rDe grege adaquando; De estoverio habendo; De piscaria habenda; De homagio capiendo; Nota.44
20199vde communaQuando permittat de communa pasture; Nota; Aliter de recto.21
202100rpastureNota; Quod permittat; Nota.11
203100vAliter ad certum numerum; De superoneracione pasture; De secunda superoneracione.32
204101rQuo iure de communa pasture.11
205101vde racionabilibus divisis et perambulacio faciendaDe racionabilibus divisis; Nota; De perambulacione facienda.22
206102rNota; De medio in comitatu; de eodem in banco.21
207102vSicut infra terminumQuare eiecit [infra terminum]; de eodem.21
208103rde eodem; Nota; De escaeta per bastardiam.21
209103vCommune custodiade eodem; de eodem; de eodem; De custodia terre et heredis.41
210104rDe custodia heredis; De custodia terre; de eodem; Aliter; De custodia racione custodie; de eodem per antecessorem; de eodem ex dimissione.73
211104vde eodem pro executoribus; de eodem in socagio; De custodia heredis.31
212105reieccione custodieDe eieccione custodie; de eodem racione dimissionis.21
213105vDe eieccione in socagio; De herede rapto.22
214106rde eodem in comitatu.10
215106vDowerDe dote; de eodem quando virum habet; De dote assignata de assensu patris.32
216107rde eodem ad hostium ecclesie; de eodem in denaris; De dote in Londoniis; De admensuracione dotis.42
217107vde eodem; Attincta de dote.21
218108rDe recordo et processu.11
219108vDe sectis faciendis; de eodem; de eodem ad wapentachium; De sectis per litteras patentes.42
220109rDe attornato ad loquelas prosequendas; Quod potestas attornati durat ultra annum.22
222110rNon conversantes non veniant ad turnumDe attornato non admisso; Quando non conversantes non veniant ad ternum.22
223110vAttachiamentum inde; Aliter in Curia honoris.21
224111rDe religeosis non veniant ad turnumQuando religiosi non veniant ad turnum; Aliter ad visum franciplegii.21
225111vQuando mulieres non veniant ad turnum; Nota; Ne quis distringatur quam formam feoffamenti.22
226112rNe quis distringatur pro custodia quam habet ex concessione Regis; De attornato ad libertates exigendas.22
227112vQuod pro una hereditate unica secta fiat.11
228113rAttachiamentum inde; De facienda unica secta pro diversis her’.22
229113vAttachiamentum inde; De contribucione facienda.22
230114rerrorDe recordo et processu; De nova disseisina.22
231114vde novade eodem de communa pasture.10
232115rdisseisinaAliter coram iusticiariis assignatis; Nota; Patens.21
233115vde novaAliter; Aliter; Nota; De nova disseisina in confinio.31
234116rdisseisinaAliter in confinio; Patens; Nota; Aliter in banco.31
235116vde novaNota; De fossato stagno et huiusmodi.11
236117rdisseisinaPatens; De nocumento in comitatu.22
237117vde nocumentoNota; Quod permittat.11
238118rde nocumentoQuod permittat; Nota; Aliter; Nota; Certificacio.32
239118vPatens inde.11
240119rDe associacio; Patens de eodem.21
241119vQuod si non omnes.11
242120rDe constitucione unius iusticiarii loco alterius; Patens inde.22
243120vQuando non omnes aliter.11
244121rDe recordo et processu assise; Nota.11
245121vAliter extra Thesaurum; De procedendo ad iudicium in assisa.21
248123rCussinageDe ?ante; Nota; Cosinage; Nota.22
249123vNuper obiit; Nota; Aliter.21
250124rMortdauncestr’aliter; Nota; Mortdauncestre.22
251124vAliter pro puero infra etatem.10
252125r?Aliter diversis gredibus; Nota; Nota.10
253125vPatent d’assise de mordauncestrePatens; Nota; [Cum essonia].22
254126rAliter in banco; Attincta.21
255126vdePatens; De ingressu ad terminum qui preteriit; de eodem inde Cui.32
256127ringressude eodem in le post; Nota; Ad terminum quando antecessor dimisit; Cui; Post; Ad terminum de hereditate mulieris.54
257127vde ingressuPer; Post; Ad terminum qui preteriit pro religiosis; Post; Nota.44
258128rde ingressuDe ingressu dum non fuit compos mentis; Cui; Post; De dimissione antecessoris non compos mentis; Cui; Post; de eodem dum fuit infra etatem.76
259128vdeCui; Post; Quando antecessor fuit infra etatem; Cui; Post; De ingressu super disseisinam; Cui.77
260129ringressuDe qua; Per; Cui; Post disseisinam; De Abbate; Cui; Post; pro successione.88
261129vdePer; Cui; Post; Nota; Postdisseisina ubi non sunt gradus; Post.55
262130ringressuDe dimissione sine assensu capituli; Per; Cui; Post; Cui in vita de dote.55
263130vde ingressuCui; Post; Cui in vita de her’ vel de dono et pluribus talis; Cui.44
264131rde ingressu; cui in vitaPost; Cui in vita pro herede; Cui; Post; De ingressu ante divorcium; Cui; Post.77
265131vde ingressuNota; Causa matrimonis; Cui; Post; de eodem aliter; Cui; Post.65
266132rde ingressuDe alienacione in feodum pertinentem in dotem; [casu ?pro’]; Cui; Post; de eodem per ten’ ad vitam; Cui post.65
267132vde ingressuCui; post; Aliter per legem; Anglie; Cui; Post.65
268133rde ingressude eodem de tenementis alienatis ad vitam; Cui; Post; Nota; Aliter.42
269133vde ingressuPost; Cui; Nota.22
270134rde ingressuPer; Cui; Post; Post.44
271134vde ingressuPer; Post; Per.33
272135rde ingressuCui; Post; Per; Cui; Post.55
273135vde ingressuNota; De tenementis tentis in dotem alienatis; Cui; Post.33
274136rNota; Cessavit.11
275136vCessavitAliter in le per; Cui; Post; De ante; De inquisione de dote.54
276137rde intrusionePer; Cui; Post; Nota.33
277137vde intrusioneDe intrusione post tenentem ad vitam; Per; Cui; Post; Aliter quando antecessor dimisit; Aliter per legem Anglie.64
278138rde intrusionePer; Cui; Post; Nota.33
279138vForma donacionis in le reverti; Aliter.21
280139rAliter; Aliter de hereditate nulieris; Aliter in le reverti vel remanere; In le descendere.41
281139vForma donacionis in le reverti; Aliter.21
282140r?Error.11
Total:486371

 

 

 

As we might expect in a portable manuscript, the total number of writs is considerably fewer than MS 28 (486 vs. 941, using in both cases the larger of the two counts). When we mapped the structure of MS 28 with their approximate proportions onto that of MS 61, however, it fit quite well: Right (13%), Ecclesiastical (11%), Waste (4%), Replevin (12%), Trespass (10%), Account (3%), Debt (3%), Annuity (3%), Covenant (0%), Rights in land (5%), Ejectment (Quare eiecit) (0%), Wardship (3%), Dower (1%), Local courts (5%), Novel disseisin (9%), Mort d’ancestor (2%), Entry (11%), Formedon (1%), Error (0%). (Proportions given as zero percent are less than half a percent.) Quite well, but certainly not perfectly: there are some differences in the proportions, e.g. Right, 13% vs. 11%; Ecclesiastical, 11% vs. 14%. Granted, however, how crude the calculation of the proportions is and how small the differences, one should hesitate to make anything out of these differences. Indeed, as a general matter, MS 61 seems to have reduced the number of writs in all the categories proportionally to those in MS 28 ending up with proportions in each category that are approximately the same as those in MS 28. Criminal precedes trespass in MS 61 rather than following it as in MS 28, and is, if we are to rely on the headers, thought of as part of trespass (fol. 77r ‘de minis trans’’, when there is no other writ on the page that could be thought of as trespass). Some of the categories in MS 61 seem to be improvements over those in MS 28: Account is clearly broken out rather than buried in rights in land. It is followed by debt. What follows is, as in MS 28, made clearer than it ought to be by our categories, but it is not in the same order of MS 28. Annuity is buried in debt followed by writs of execution in personal actions (debt and trespass are both mentioned), followed by warranty of charter, customs and services, and covenant, before we reach anything that could properly be described as rights in land (De ponte reparando). Mesne, quare eiecit, and escheat separate rights in land from wardship. Cessavit is buried in entry. The writ of error at the end is clearly a one-off, and, as noted, above, a clue to the date and perhaps to the provenance.

The register has a fairly full set of contemporary headers that show some capacity for generalization. ‘De recto’ marks the initial folios. Indeed it proceeds too far running into not only De recto de advocacione, but also Quare admisit, Utrum, etc. As we have already noted, there is a hint in the header on fol. 77r, that the maker of the headers thought of De minis as a trespassory writ, but he did not follow up with that suggestion, not marking trespass again until he got to the civil action. The 15th-century index of writs at the beginning of the manuscript does not attempt to group the writs but, rather, lists them alphabetically.